Sprinkler head shut-off device



Feb. 6, 1940. A. A. POCH SPRINKLER HEAD SHUT-OFF DEVICE Filed Nov. 5,. 1938 INVENTOR.

sprinkler head shut-off devices.

' UNlTED STATES PATENTV'OFFICE SPRINKLER HEAD SHUT-OFF DEVICE,

Alexander A. Pooh, Grand Rapids, Michf Y Application November 5,1938, Serial No. 238,957

7 Claims. This invention relates to improvements in The main objects of my invention are:

First, to provide an improved shut-off device for a sprinkler head of the'type ordinarily embodied in an automatic industrial sprinkler system.

Second, to provide a device of the type described Which is exceedingly simplein construction; but effective in operation, and is characterized by a minimum of parts. I

Third, to provide a device of the type describe which is fool-proof and which may be readily embodied in existent sprinkler heads and operated by unskilled persons.

Further objects relating to details and.

economies of my invention will definitely appear from the description to follow. The invention is defined in'the claims. I

A structure embodying the features of my invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a view in side elevation illustrating the shut-oil device of my invention in set position relative to a sprinkler head of known construction.

Fig. 2 is a front elevational view further illustrating details of my device and the relation thereof to the head.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view illustrating my device in operative or shut-01f position relative to the sprinkler.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary top plan view further illustrating the, manner in which my device functions.

The present invention relates to a simple, economical device for shutting off the flow of water through a sprinkler head as is ordinarily found in commercial automatic, sprinkling systems. In many instances, much damage to property is done because of unnecessaryflooding of property following the operation of such sprinkler systems. Furthermore, it sometimes happens that a head or heads will come into operation because of inadvertent displacement of the usual closure therefor and in such case it is desirable to shut off the flow of Water as quickly and easily as possible. Various devices have been proposed for the purpose, but in general they are complicated in structure and operation. What is more, in an extremely large number of instances no provision whatsoever is made for shutting off the water except by the manual insertion of a plug in the sprinkler, which is" of course clumsy and so time consuming as to be value whatsoevern' Referring to the drawing, the reference numeral I in general indicates an extensively used type of sprinkler headsuch as I have referred to, which is tapped to the system pipe 2 shown in dotted lines. The head usually consists of a closure 3 normally held over the outlet 4 of the head by means of a toggle instrumentality, generally designated 5, bearing against the closure on one side and a vfixed thrust pin or lug '6 at the other, the saidarrangement constituting a release device which is adapted to be broken by the destruction by melting of a fusible element 1 to thereby release the closure 3 and permit flow of water through the outlet.

My shut-off device consists of acap 8 which is pivoted to a bracket 9 which may be formed integral with the sprinkler head casting as illustrated in the figures. or which, if desired, may be attached toa clamping collar for attachment to already existing heads not provided with, any shut-oft device. Cap 8 is adapted to be manually actuated to the closing position illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4 when the closure 3 has been released and displaced, and to this end I connect practically 'of no .thereto a chain or other tension element by means of a suitable lug or rivet II on the cap. The chain has a ring 12 at its free end adapted to be engaged by means of a hooked pole or other instrumentality to actuate the same. In order to secure the cap in its temporary closing position, I provide. a spring catch or detent I3 which is fixed to the sprinkler head casting (or in the case a separate collar is utilized, to a suitable point thereon) and this spring has an inwardly directed portion l engageable with a lip or lug It on the cap in the manner illustrated in Fig.

3, to hold the same until it is desired to remove the cap. In order to effect an automatic-latching of the spring detent and cap, the latter terminates in a rearwardly inclined cam section II which is initially engaged by the lug l6 during the downward movement of the cap to urge the detent outwardly.

, When the automatic sprinkler control is to be reset, the cap is manually released and shifted rearwardly to the inoperative position illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, where it remains until actuated in the manner previously described.

I have illustrated and described my improvements in an embodiment which is very practical. I have not attempted to illustrate or describe other embodiments or adaptations as it is believed this disclosure will enable those skilled in the art to embody or adapt my improvements as may be desired.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A shut-off device for an automatic sprinkler head, comprising a fixed supporting element, a cap pivoted directly to said element in relation to the head whereby to be swingable into sealing engagement with the outlet of the head by a single pivotal movement, a tension element connected to the cap for actuating the same, and a manually releasable spring detent fixedly secured to said supporting element and engageable with said cap to hold the same in said sealing engagement with the head until released.

2. A shut-off device for an automatic sprinkler head, comprising a fixed support, a closure mov ably attached directly to said support and capable of being shifted into closing relation to the fiuid outlet of the head by a single movement, an element connected to the closure for actuating the same, and a spring catch member fixedly secured to said support and releasably engageable with said closure to hold the same in said closing relation.

3. A shut-off device for an automatic sprinkler head, comprising a fixed support having an upstanding bracket, a closure pivoted directly on one side to said bracket and having a sealing portion engageable with the outlet of the head to seal the same by a single pivotal movement, and a spring detent carried by said support, said closure having a lug projecting therefrom at the other side and engageable with said detent to hold the closure in said sealing relation until released, said detent having a cam portion engageable by the lug to deflect the detent and permit passage of the lug therebeneath.

4. A shut-ofi device for an automatic sprinkler head, comprising a fixed support having an upstanding bracket, a closure pivoted directly on one side to said bracket and having a sealing portion operatively engageable with the outlet of the head to seal the same by a single pivotal movement, a spring detent on said support, said closure having a lug projecting therefrom and engageable with said detent to hold the closure in said sealing relation, and a tension member engageable by a suitable device and connected to said closure to actuate the same to operative seaing position. i

5. A shut-off device for an automatic sprinkler head, comprising a fixed support, a closure pivoted directly on one side to said support and having a sealing portion operatively engageable with the outlet of the head to seal the same by a single pivotal movement, a detent on said support, said closure having a lug projecting therefrom and engageable with said detent to hold the closure in said sealing relation, and a member engageable by a suitable device and connected to said closure to actuate the same to operative sealing position.

6. A shut-01f device for an automatic sprinkler head, comprising a fixed support, a closure pivoted directly on one side to said support and having a sealing portion operatively engageable with the outlet of the head to seal the same by a single pivotal movement, a detent on said support, engageable with said closure to hold the same in said sealing relation, and a tension member engageable by a suitable device and connected to said closure to actuate the same to operative sealing position.

7. A shut-01f device for an automatic sprinkler head, comprising a fixed support, a closure pivoted directly to said support and having a sealing portion engageable with the outlet of the head to seal the same and swingable to sealing engagement by a single pivotal movement, and a detent car'- ried by said support and automatically actuated by said closure to engage the same to hold the closure in said sealing relation.

ALEXANDER A. POCH. 

